Bear spear was a medieval type of spear used in hunting for bears and other large animals. The sharpened head of a bear spear was enlarged and usually had a form of a bay leaf. Right under the head there was a short crosspiece that helped fixing the spear in the body of an animal.
Basically, the bear spear was close to boar spear, but it had a longer and harder shaft and larger head. Often it was placed against the ground on its rear point, which make it easier to hold the weight of attacking beast.
Bear spear was used against the largest animals, not only bears, but also wisents and war horses, thus being used not only in hunting, but in warfare as well. It also could be used against the smaller animals such as boars, but in that case it was less wieldy than specialized boar spear.
In the Slavic countries it was known as rogatina and used since at least 12th century. The Russian chronicles first mention it as a military weapon under the year 1149, and as a hunting weapon under the year 1255 (though it was used by Prince Daniel of Galicia in boar hunting).[1] In Germany the bear spear or bärenspieß was known from at least the Late Middle Ages, but was rather rare when compared to Eastern Europe due to the much smaller population of bears.